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Summary

Possible former planting beds in the garden immediately to the rear of Torre Abbey are visible as dark cropmarks on aerial photographs taken in 1947 and 1949. No such features are visible on later available aerial photographs, and part of the area has since been surfaced.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1009302: Torre Abbey

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: 1318359
• Torbay HER: MTO9675

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• GARDEN FEATURE (XVIII to Early 20th Century - 1701 AD to 1932 AD (Between))
• PLANT BED? (XVIII to Early 20th Century - 1701 AD to 1932 AD (Between))

Full description

Aerofilms, 1947, Aerofilms LTD Oblique Aerial Photography (AFL 60005), AFL 60005/EAWO11841 07-OCT-1947 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352475.

Several dark cropmarks are visible.

Cambridge University, 1949, CUC/CF, CUCAP CF37 16-JUN-1949 (Aerial Photograph). SDV342760.

A star shaped dark cropmark is visible.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R., 2013-2014, South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV351146.

Dark cropmarks visible on aerial photographs taken in 1947 may have formed over historic garden features at Torre Abbey. The clearer marks include several circles, a crescent and a five pointed star, and indistinct marks to the south-west appear to mirror the pattern. These could have been former planting beds around the oval pond, intended to be viewed from the rooms at the rear of the house. The star is still visible on aerial photographs taken in 1949, confirming that at least some were indeed buried features, which survived for several years. No such features are visible on later available aerial photographs, and part of the area has since been surfaced.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV342760	Aerial Photograph: Cambridge University. 1949. CUC/CF. Cambridge University Collection of Aerial Photographs. Photograph (Paper). CUCAP CF37 16-JUN-1949.
SDV351146	Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R.. 2013-2014. South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Project. AC Archaeology Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV352475	Aerial Photograph: Aerofilms. 1947. Aerofilms LTD Oblique Aerial Photography (AFL 60005). NMR Aerial Photograph. Digital. AFL 60005/EAWO11841 07-OCT-1947. [Mapped feature: #64530 ]

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6127 - Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme (NMP) for South-West England - South Coast Devon (Ref: ACD618)
• EDV7908 - Torre Abbey, Torquay: Conservation Plan

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